Category: Singles Only

New Singles: Dollface, The Toms, The Perms, Timmy Sean, The Top Boost

powerpopaholic

This ’90s-era UK punk band snuck some power pop in there! These tracks sure are good, and they are FREE downloads! Check out the Dollface band page for more.

Any music from Tom Mardola (aka The Toms) is welcome, and he’s released this brilliant single to us as a FREE download. A big thanks to Futureman Records for this one.

Canadian band The Perms are working on a new album, and this single featuring new singer Amy Lewis. A great example of a band expanding its sound. Get it on Amazon

Timmy Sean has been pretty busy this year starting his new label Noisewater Records, named after his outstanding debut album. It looks like he’s been holding back long enough and his new track, “In California” is outstanding. I really look forward to his new LP!


The Top Boost proves its versatility with the country-styled pop “Tell Me That’s You’re Mine.” Love the wicked guitar breaks contrasting the innocence in lyrics. Check it out.

Cool and Controversial singles: Badfinger, Rick Gallego, Zak Nilsson, Starbelly, Dungeon of Skeletons, Frankie Siragusa

powerpopaholic

“Baby Blue,” taken from the 1971 Badfinger album Straight Up, is rated one of the band‘s greatest power pop songs. An updated version of this classic features vocals by Badfinger’s sole surviving original member, singer/guitarist Joey Molland, with Matthew Sweet adding backing vocals and guitar. Molland has been working on a new album Be True to Yourself, with veteran producer Mark Hudson. This new version is pretty controversial, as fans on Facebook have let loose some blistering criticism that this version is akin to sacrilege. Judge for yourself. 

Thanks to Rick Gallego (aka Cloud Eleven) we have a jingle for the health food store Brian Wilson owned from 1969 to 1971. Wilson went on a big health food kick at the time exemplified in the song “Vegetables”, written for the Beach Boys’ album Smile in 1966. It sure makes me smile!

Zak Nilsson (son of legendary musician Harry) wrote this song about his dad. Produced by Fernando Perdomo & Jason Berk, all proceeds benefit the City of Hope Cancer Research and Treatment Center. To hear a tribute to Harry’s music from last year that Zak participated in, listen to This is the Town: A Tribute to Nilsson, Vol. 1

The great Starbelly returns with this new single featuring the incredible Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Jellyfish, Beck, The Lickerish Quartet) on piano, backing vocals, and other lavish orchestrations. Drink it all in — it’s a winner!

Dungeon of Skeletons is a new band from Nashville, the always excellent Justin Kline is the driving force behind it and he’s developed two excellent singles. I can’t wait for the full length!


Frankie Siragusa (who played with The Posies) has a solo track under the name Jebb. It’s a grower about our ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Singles: The Cudas, Ryan Allen, Empty City Squares, Mike Daly, The James Rocket, The Starbems, Chris Church, Vanilla, Richard Turgeon

powerpopaholic

A boatload of great new singles! Check these out… and some are FREE downloads!

This is some great power pop hero worship with strong riffs. The Cudas deserve kudos for this!

Fresh after working with Nick Puinti on his new LP, Ryan Allen gets to work on his own music for a cause. 100% of the proceeds for downloading these songs will go to the Black Lives Matter movement.

New Jersey band Empty City Squares describes a world that is spinning off its axis thanks to COVID-19. The band also has a single out exclusively with Big Stir Records called “Parmenides” which is quite good.

Mike Daly is releasing a somber song for these troubled times. A bit depressing, but “I guess this is my life now, I hope that it lasts.”

NY based The James Rocket does it all right; wearing a mask, washing your hands, social distancing, and getting freakin’ frustrated with the whole thing,

Japanese power-pop-punk band The Starbems are part Knack and part Ramones. This single kicks ass all over the place.
Frank Burns was a band in the mid-90s that existed just long enough to record two songs. North Carolina’s Chris Church was part of that effort and delivers these rare artifacts. But why name your band after the most annoying character from M.A.S.H.?

Jayson Jarmon from Vanilla has a knack for tasty power pop. I love both the catchy “Easy As Pi” and the Western-styled pop of “Easy.”


West coast rocker Richard Turgeon keeps cranking out material for his new upcoming LP.

FOW Tribute and Singles: Ken Sharp, Vegas With Randolph, Hank Idory, François Premiers

powerpopaholic

Can’t Shake That Tune: A Tribute to Fountains of Wayne

It’s still hard for me to believe that Adam Schlesinger is gone. As expected, numerous artists have done tributes, including the remaining members of Fountains of Wayne. Now we have a great new collection of covers from Radiant Radish Records. Some artists play the songs faithfully, like American Wood’s “Denise” while others vary the style, like Jonathan Pushkar’s acoustic version of  “Stacy’s Mom.” It’s FREE to download – don’t miss it.


SINGLES

Ken Sharp does a modern power-pop arrangement to The Who classic “The Kids Are Alright.” It’s pretty cool, and if you like that version you should visit the Poprock Record blog to hear a large section artists’ playing this song.

Do you enjoy a friend with benefits? Vegas With Randolph delivers a kick-ass single about living N.S.A. (No Strings Attached) – the band really packs this song with sonic details and it’s a catchy theme!
From Valencia, Spain the talented Hank Idory returns with this bright and sunny single in Spanish which means “For The First Time.” In any language melodic power pop is easy to recognize. Bueno música!

From Le Havre, France we have this melodic rock band with heavy leanings. François Premiers are a little power pop with a touch of prog rock. Plus a cool cover of “Don’t Put Me On” by The Flamin’ Groovies.

FREEBIES, Singles and EPs: The Nap, Andy Reed, Tired Eyes, Packy Lundholm, Bandits on the Run, Zebedee, The JAC, Creamer

powerpopaholic

EPs

I found some really cool EPs and they all are “Name-your-price” downloads. Share, please!

The Nap is a band from Gijón, Spain and they have a cool dramatic ’90s pop sound. “Bed Time” is a little like Hootie and The Blowfish. Check out the harmonies on “Corredor,” and the funky guitar on “Little Cat,” it definitely grows on you.

Andy Reed is back with another selection of tunes, following up his 2015 “Relay, Vol.1.” And this set shows off his skill in different genres. “His Love is Gonna Let You Down” is a ‘70s styled rocker with a bluesy guitar that’s just smoking. A cover of Paul Williams’s “Rainbow Connection” is a sweet update of the classic.

Tired Eyes is the alter ego of Liam James Marsh (Kid Chameleon) and Ellie Vincent. Simple guitar tunes with Liam’s double-tracked vocal have plenty of charm on “It’s Late & I’m Tired” and the frustrating emotions of “Grin.”

Chicago musician/producer/songwriter Packy Lundholm does a good job with varied styles in this “Track Sabbath” EP. “Hosanna” is an epic production with a little bit of everything, and a catchy chorus too. “Cocaine Guys” is another winner with a vocoder and sax solo! Not power pop, but there is more to discover here.

SINGLES

Bandits on the Run is a talented group of NYC musicians who’ve had experience on Broadway and other venues. This single is beautiful, catchy, and inspired a short film! Looking forward to full album of those great harmonies.

Brooklyn-based rockers Zebedee have this late 70’s styled single that chugs along with some inspired bass work. This is psych-pop that will get you jumping on the bed playing air guitar.

The JAC is back! Aussie rocker Joe Algeri (The Brittanicas) gives us a rough cut of the frustration being locked up because of a pandemic. “Just punch me out, give me back my life!”

Philip Creamer knows how to do an epic power ballad as well as anyone. Fans of Bowie, Queen, and Marc Bolland will love this. I can’t wait for the next LP!